GV110-4-AU-CO:
Scientific Reasoning for the Social Sciences
2019/20
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 03 October 2019
Saturday 14 December 2019
15
30 April 2019
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
SC208
BA L250 International Relations (Including Foundation Year),
BA L258 International Relations,
BA L259 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L260 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
BSC L222 Politics and International Relations,
BSC L223 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BSC L224 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year)
This module provides an introduction into the basics of the philosophy and theory of (empirical social) science, its structure, and procedures/techniques. It tackles questions such as "what is a research design?" and "how is scientific progress made?" This module thus seeks to introduce students to the basics of scientific work and procedures in the social sciences, which in turn shall allow them to conduct work that fulfills satisfactory standards of research quality. This not only pertains in particular to students' classes during the third academic year, but also in light of potential postgraduate studies.
This module seeks to enable students to assess scientific logics and assumptions, evaluate scientific theories and empirical evidence, and build intuition for good research designs.
Gained an understanding of the basic issues in research design and philosophy of science.
Learnt how to construct a scientific explanation (research question, theory-building, hypotheses).
Understood how to empirically evaluate scientific theories.
No additional information available.
1 x 1 hour lecture per week. 1 x 1 hour class per week.
- Kuhn, Thomas S.; Hacking, Ian. (2012) The structure of scientific revolutions, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
- Kellstedt, Paul M.; Whitten, Guy D. (2013) The fundamentals of political science research, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Kellstedt, Paul M.; Whitten, Guy D. (2018) The fundamentals of political science research, New York: Cambridge University Press.
- King, Gary; Keohane, Robert O.; Verba, Sidney. (c1994) Designing social inquiry: scientific inference in qualitative research, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
- Lakatos, Imre. (1970) ''Falsification and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes' in Criticism and the growth of knowledge', in Criticism and the growth of knowledge, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. vol. Proceedings / International Colloquium in the Philosophy of Science
- Popper, Karl R. (2002) The logic of scientific discovery, London: Routledge. vol. Routledge classics
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
In Lecture Test |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Final Assignment |
|
50% |
| Practical |
Presentation |
|
20% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Federica Genovese, email: fgenov@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Federica Genovese plus Teaching Assistants
Module Supervisor: fgenov@essex.ac.uk
Module Administrator: Nicola Rowley, govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Mohammed Rodwan Abouharb
University College London
Available via Moodle
Of 73 hours, 71 (97.3%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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